Receiver driven differentiated service marking for unicast and multicast applications

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a system ( 100, 200, 300 ) and a method of data transmission in a communication system comprising a source node ( 12 ) which originates packet data transmissions, a packet data network ( 18 ), at least one router or switch ( 16, 20 ) and a destination node ( 14 ) which receives the packet data transmission.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to communication systems and methods ofcommunication in which packet data transmissions between source nodesand destination nodes have a controlled per hop processing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a prior art communication system 10 fortransmitting packet data transmissions between a plurality of sourcenodes 12 A-N to a plurality of destination nodes 14 1-N. Eachdestination node 14 may be any type of receiving device, such as acellular or asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) receiver, etc. Each sourcenode 12, which may be any type of data originating device, originatespacket data transmissions each containing data packets which may betransmitted with various data protocols such as, but not limited to,TCP/IP. Individual packet data transmissions from the source nodes 12are transmitted to one or more routers 16 which are typically under thejurisdiction of an internet service provider (ISP). The data packets areoutputted from the routers 16 to a packet data network 18 whichtypically is an IP network. The packet data network 18 providesconnectivity of the inputted data packets received from the routers 16to one or more routers 20. The routers 20 are also typically under thejurisdiction of an ISP. The last router 20, in a non-wirelessembodiment, transmits the packet data transmissions to the destinationnode 14 via a communication link 22 such as, but not limited to, arelatively low bandwidth telephone link and therefore, a limited datatransmission capacity. Alternatively, the last router (n) 20 in awireless application outputs the packet data transmissions to a basestation 24 which transmits the packet data transmission via a wirelesslink 26, typically of relatively low bandwidth, to the destination node14. All of the component parts of the communication system 10 are wellknown and in wide spread usage today.

Traditionally, ISPs have provided all customers with the same level ofperformance (best-effort service). Service differentiation has beenlimited to the pricing structure (individual vs. business rates) or theconnectivity type (dial-up access vs. leased line, etc.). However, withthe growth of the internet in recent years, a temporal scarcity ofnetwork capacity can arise which compromises performance of traditionalmission critical applications. Additionally, new applications haveemerged which demand improved service quality. As a result, ISPs arefinding it necessary to offer customers alternative levels of service.As well as meeting new customer expectations, alternative levels ofservice allow ISPs to improve revenue through premium pricing andcompetitive differentiation of service offerings, which in turn can fundthe necessary expansion of the network.

The internet engineering task force (IETF) has proposed a differentiatedservices architecture in which IP packets are labelled with a DS fieldby a source or other node, such as the source nodes 12 or other nodes inFIG. 1. The IETF differentiated services scheme is described in theFebruary 1999 draft—IETF-Diffserv-Framework-02.TXT which document isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The differentiated services architecture is a one-way network todestination node protocol offering a framework within which ISPs canoffer each customer a range of network services which are differentiatedon the basis of performance in addition to pricing tiers used in thepast. Customers request a specific performance level in a packet bypacket basis, by marking a differentiated services (DS) field of eachpacket with a specific value. The DS field contains a differentiatedservices code point (DSCP). The DSCP is not a priority and is anabstract number which a controlling node, such as a router, maps to aspecific per hop behavior (PHB) which in turn relates to quality ofservice (QOS) or more generically to the treatment of a packet relativeto other packets by the controlling node (router) at the time. The PHBis meaningful in relation to other PHBs in the same class (or group) andto the service policy implemented by the controlling node (router). TheDS field structure is 8 bits in length with 6 bits (0-5) being allocatedto encoding the DSCP and 2 bits (6-7) encoding the quantity CU which iscurrently unused. The DSCP value selects the PHB processing that apacket receives at each node. The DSCP may be any value with most valuesnot being standardized. The DS field structure is called a TOS field inthe IPv4 header and a Class field in the IPv6 header. Typically, thecustomer and the ISP negotiate a profile (policing profile) describingthe rate at which traffic can be submitted at each service level.Packets in excess of this profile may not be allotted the service levelrequested. A salient feature of differentiated services is scalabilityallowing deployment in very large networks. The scalability is achievedby forcing as much complexity out of the core of the network into theboundary devices which processes lower volumes of traffic and lessernumbers of flows, and offering services for aggregate traffic ratherthan on a per-micro-flow basis. The differentiated services architecturemay be utilized in a communication system such as the prior art of FIG.1.

Certain deficiencies exist with the current differentiated servicesarchitecture. Slow access links (wireless or telephone modem) presentthe sender-oriented differential services architecture with seriousdrawbacks as a consequence of only the source, such as the source nodes12 of the prior art diagram of FIG. 1, being in control of the per hopbehavior of the packet data transmissions which are received by thedestination nodes 14 as the result of only the source nodes typicallyspecifying the value of the aforementioned DSCP field.

The prevalence of low bandwidth access links, such as links 22 and 26 inthe prior art of FIG. 1, is a network limitation which will notdisappear in the near future. Continued usage of dial up modems withplain old telephone service and a large growth in the number of wirelessmobile phones acting as IP hosts will increase the number of lowbandwidth access links.

Different types of problems result from low bandwidth access links whichseverely interfere with the destination nodes 14 of FIG. 1 properlyreceiving data under the differentiated services architecture as aconsequence of the PHB being solely dictated by the source nodes 12 orthe upstream network. Source node control in an organization's accesslink can create problems between a company LAN and an ISP. A company mayhave a 64K bit/s incoming link from an ISP. When a company worker isconnected to the world wide web and connects to an advertisement video,the high quality of service specified by the video at source node 12will consume over 100K bit/s as a consequence of the DSCP value beingmarked with the highest value. As a result, a single advertisement videoutilizes the whole access link capacity preventing all other activitywith the link. Another example is when the user of a destination node ishaving a IP-telephone conversation. If the person receiving the IP callasks the user to look at a web page, the user's request for the web pageconsumes the available bandwidth as a result of it originating from acommercial web server, providing prompt responses in which all trafficis sent with the highest DSCP value. As a result, the IP-phoneconversation can be severely degraded by the connectivity of the webpage to the user. An additional example is when a multicast video issent to a group of receivers in which the video is marked with a DSCPvalue representing a high priority. Receipt of this video will totallyconsume limited bandwidth links, such as links 22 and 26 in FIG. 1,connecting routers to destination nodes.

The current differentiated services architecture focus is totally on thenetwork with the sender controlling the per hop processing by settingthe DSCP values. Typically the DSCP value is the result of service levelagreements between the senders and ISPs with the destination node havingno input into how data packet transmissions transmitted from the varioussource nodes 12 are transmitted thereto.

Other prior art solutions involve the destination nodes 14 providing astatic reception priority to certain types of data. For example, adestination node may always consider data packet transmissions fromcertain sources, such as a “a company .com” as being the highestpriority packets thereby providing a mechanism for the destination nodeto handle certain types of packets with preferential treatment. However,this does not permit the destination nodes 14 to control the per hopprocessing of data being transmitted over the communication links to thedestination nodes.

Additionally, a modification of the differentiated services architecturehas been proposed in which the destination nodes 14 will transmit backto the network a “yes” response to a router or other node that thedestination node is to receive the data packet transmissions from thesource nodes 12 with the DSCP value specified in the received datapackets. If the specified DSCP value indicates a per hop processingwhich would cause an overload of the capacity of the communication links22 and 26, the communication system, such as the router 20, is notinformed with a transmission by the destination node 14 that thespecified DSCP value contained in the packet data transmissions is notaccepted. This results in a default per hop processing of datatransmission from the router or other node to the destination node 14which avoids overloading or degrading the communication quality. Thisproposal however does not allow the destination node 14 to effectivelycontrol the per hop processing of the received data packet transmissionswith a DSCP value identifying a plurality of possible per hop processingoptions or any other type of per hop processing. Only the specified perhop processing contained in the data packets which are received by therouter or other node or the default per hop processing are possible.Therefore, the destination nodes 14 have no ability to program the perhop processing of data packet transmissions at network nodes receivedfrom the source nodes 12.

The resource reservation protocol (RSVP) is a two-way end to endsignalling protocol which must be supported in every router in thetransmission path of a packet data transmission. In a communicationsystem such as FIG. 1, connectivity between the source nodes 12 and thedestination nodes 14 with the RSVP protocol provides a two-way dedicatedpath with a level of service specified by the destination nodes 14. TheRSVP protocol is not dynamic in nature. Once the communication path hasbeen fixed and the quality of service required by the destination nodehas been specified, the link remains invariable permitting data packettransmissions up to the level of the specified quality of service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method of data transmission and acommunication system in which the destination nodes in a communicationsystem, such as, but not limited to, the differentiated servicesarchitecture, are provided with control of the per hop processing of thereceived packet data transmissions. Each destination node is given totalcontrol over the received packet data transmission transmitted throughat least one controlling node (per hop processing which may bequalitative, quantitative, or otherwise). Destination node controlpermits management of the data flow thereto from any type of controllingnode, such as routers and/or switches in a wireline embodiment or from abase station and/or routers and switches in a wireless embodiment. Thispermits the reception of data packet transmissions from multiple sourcenodes without overloading or otherwise compromising the functionality ofthe communication links and/or destination nodes.

The per hop processing is controlled or identified by a commandtransmitted from the destination node to the controlling node and isdiverse in nature. In a preferred embodiment, the per hop processing isfully programmable and specifies DSCP values which are an indication ofprocessing which the at least one controlling node performs in thedifferentiated services architecture. However, more generally the perhop processing which is controlled or identified by the command may beto control a QOS, priority of processing, qualitative or quantitativeprocessing, or any other data processing.

The present invention is applicable to both unicast and multicastapplications. In both applications, each destination node signals adesired per hop processing (e.g., DSCP value) in the form of a commandwhich is transmitted back to the at least one controlling node, such asa base station in a wireless application and a router if connectivity isprovided by a wireless communication link.

The present invention in a multilayer application, such as multilayervideo, permits different layers to be marked with different quality ofservice specifications depending upon the characteristics of thedestination nodes.

With the invention, each destination node generates a commandcontrolling the reception of packet data transmissions transmittedthereto through at least controlling node with a specified per hopbehavior processing to be performed on the at least packet datatransmission received by the at least one controlling node. This commandmay be sent to one or more routers, switches or a base station.Typically the last router or switch (or base station in a wirelessembodiment) is sent the command. However, the command may be sent toother routers or switches in order to alleviate any bottleneck in datatransmission which is not present at the last router.

The at least one controlling node (router, switch or base station orplurality of routers, switches or base stations) which receives thecommand preferably authenticates the destination node transmitting thecommand prior to providing honoring the per hop processing specified inthe command. The command may be relayed through all of the controllingnodes in the communication path all the way back to the source node.Alternatively, the transmission of the command may be sent to acontrolling node, such as a router or switch, which is not directlyconnected to (upstream of the controlling node providing directconnectivity) the destination node but, in this circumstance,authentication must be performed carefully. Authentication may beperformed either by the at least one controlling node (e.g., the router,switch, base station or some other device associated with these devices)prior to the at least one controlling node being programmed to providethe per hop behavior specified in the command.

The methodology by which routers and base stations control the qualityof service to destination nodes is well known and is not part of thepresent invention.

A method of data transmission in a communication system comprising asource node which originates packet data transmissions, at least onecontrolling node and a destination node which receives the packet datatransmissions in accordance with the invention includes originating atleast one packet data transmission at the source node; transmitting theoriginated packet data transmission to the at least one controllingnode, the at least one packet data transmission received at the at leastone controlling node from the source node containing informationindicating a per hop behavior processing which the at least onecontrolling node is to perform on the received at least one packet datatransmission; the at least one controlling node transmitting the atleast one packet data transmission to the destination node with the atleast one packet data transmission being received by the destinationnode with a per hop behavior processing having been performed on the atleast one packet data transmission by the at least one controlling nodedifferent than the per hop behavior specified in the at least one packetdata transmission received by the at least one controlling node; andtransmitting from the destination node to the at least one controllingnode a command which specifies processing of the at least one packetdata transmission by the at least one controlling node receiving thecommand with a per hop behavior indicated in the command. The at leastone controlling node may be a router, switch or a base station. The perhop behavior indicated by the command may be qualitative and specify adegree of time latency during which the at least one packet datatransmission must be received by the destination node or specify anacceptable level of loss of data within the at least one packet datatransmission. The per hop behavior specified by the command may bequantitative and specify a time interval of time latency with which theat least one packet data transmission must be received by thedestination node or specify a maximum level of loss of data with whichthe at least one packet data transmission must be received by thedestination node or a maximum level of loss of data with which the atleast one packet data transmission must be received by the destinationnode.

The communication system may comprise another source node; and thedestination node generates the command in response to transmission of atleast one packet data transmission from the another source node to theat least one controlling node receiving the command to the destinationnode.

The communication system may comprise a communication link between theat least one controlling node receiving the command having a datatransmission capacity; and the destination node generates the command inresponse to the destination node choosing to receive data packettransmissions from both source nodes so as to accommodate reception ofdata packet transmissions from the source nodes within the datatransmission capacity.

The per hop behavior indicated in the at least one packet datatransmission may be QOS specification specifying processing to beperformed by the at least one controlling ode on the received at leastone packet data transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in thecommand may be a QOS specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.

The per hop behavior specified in the command may be an allocation ofbandwidth of the packet data transmission to the destination node or theper hop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmissionreceived by the at least one controlling node may be a DSCP and the perhop behavior indicated in the command may be a DSCP which is performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission.

The communication system may comprise a plurality of destination nodes;the source node originates at least one packet data transmission to theplurality of destination nodes; and each destination node independentlytransmits to the at least controlling node a command which specifiesprocessing of the at least one packet data transmission by the at leastone controlling node receiving the command with a per hop behaviorindicated in the command.

A communication system in accordance with the invention may be a sourcenode which originates packet data transmissions; at least a controllingnode, which is responsive to information contained within the at leastone packet data transmission indicating a per hop behavior processingwhich the at least one controlling node is to perform on the at leastone packet data transmission; and a destination node, coupled to the atleast one controlling node, which receives packet data transmissionstransmitted by the at least one controlling node which has beenprocessed by the at least one controlling node with a per hop behaviorprocessing different than the per hop behavior processing indicated inthe at least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node and which generates a command which is transmitted tothe at least one controlling node which specifies processing of the atleast one packet data transmission by the at least one controlling nodeof the at least one packet data transmission received by the destinationnode with a per hop indicated in the command. The at least onecontrolling node may be a router, switch or a base station.

The communication system further may comprise another source node; andthe destination node generates the command in response to transmissionof at least one packet data transmission from the another source node tothe at least one controlling node receiving the command to thedestination node.

The communication system may further comprise a communication link,having a data transmission capacity, disposed between the at least onecontrolling node receiving the command and the destination node; and thedestination node generates the command in response to the destinationnode choosing to receive data packet transmissions from both sourcenodes so as to accommodate reception of data packet transmissions fromthe source nodes within the data transmission capacity.

The communication system may comprise a plurality of destination nodes;the source node originates packet data transmissions for transmission tothe plurality of destination nodes and each destination nodeindependently transmits to the at least one controlling node a commandwhich controls processing of the data packet transmissions by the atleast one controlling node receiving the command with a per hop behaviorspecified in the command.

The per hop behavior indicated in the at least one packet datatransmission may be a DSCP; and the per hop behavior indicated in thecommand may be a DSCP to be performed by the at least one controllingnode, or the per hop behavior indicated in the at least one packet datatransmission may be a QOS specification specifying processing to beperformed by the at least one controlling node on the received at leastone packet data transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in thecommand may be a QOS specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission, or the per hop behavior indicated in the command is anallocation of bandwidth of the at least one packet data transmission tothe destination node.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a prior art packet datacommunication system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a possible format of the per hop control command.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the data field of the per hop controlcommand.

Like numbers identify like parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment 100 in accordance with the presentinvention. The embodiment 100 of FIG. 2 differs from the prior art ofFIG. 1 in that the per hop behavior processing performed by at least onecontrolling node to process at least one packet data transmissionreceived by each destination node 14 is specified by a per hop controlcommand 102 which is transmitted to the one or more controlling nodes,such as the routers or switches 16 and 20.

A controlling node is any node within the embodiment 100, includingnodes (not illustrated) within the IP network 18, which process packetdata transmissions passing through the controlling node which have adestination address which is at least one of the destination nodes 14.The per hop control command 102 has diverse applications which includePHB processing by the at least one controlling node to provide a DSCPvalue in a differentiated services architecture in which the destinationnodes control data reception in a fully programmable manner, quality ofservice processing, prioritization of reception of data, etc. Forexample, without limitation qualitative and quantative processingoptions exist for controlling the per hop processing, such as choosingthe type of service, good, best, etc., time latency of datatransmission, acceptable level of data loss, allocation of bandwidth topacket data transmissions passing through the at least one controllingnode from different source nodes, etc. The dotted lines of the commandindicate additional possible routers or switches 16 and 20 to which theper hop control command may be addressed. While typically the lastrouter or switch 20 is the one to which the command is addressed in thisembodiment, it should be understood that the invention may be practicedwith the per hop control command addressed to one or more of any routeror switch 16 or 20. The per hop control command 102, which is describedin more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6, specifies a particular per hopprocessing, e.g., a DSCP value of the differentiated servicesarchitecture, which each destination node 14 desires for receipt of datapacket transmissions from the last router or switch 20 over thecommunication link 22 from one or more of the source nodes 12. As aresult, each destination node 14 is no longer without a mechanism tocontrol the data reception from packet data transmissions originatingfrom one or more source nodes 12. For example, in a circumstance whenmultiple source nodes 12 (A and N in this example) originate, packetdata transmissions which are addressed to destination node (1), the perhop control command provides destination node (1) an effective controlmechanism to manage the per hop processing of data received from the atleast one controlling node over the communication link 22 so as to avoidthe undesirable deficiencies of the prior art described above. As aresult, the destination nodes 14 transmit a programmable per hopprocessing to the at least one controlling node.

In a typical situation, when one of the destination nodes 14 isreceiving data packet transmissions from source node A and then receivesan indication that packet data transmissions are to be received fromanother source node, such as source node N, the destination node 14issues a per hop control command 102 to one or more routers or switches16 and 20 controlling the per hop processing of the packet datatransmissions passing through at least the last router. Typically, thecommunication link 22 is a low bandwidth link but the invention is notlimited to any particular form of wireline link with any datatransmission capacity being possible.

The per hop control command 102 permits each destination node 14 tochoose reception of packet data transmissions from multiple source nodes12 under diverse and totally programmable per hop processing performedby at least one controlling node which eliminates the problems of theprior art under the differentiated services architecture.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment 200 of the present invention. Thesecond embodiment 200 differs from the first embodiment 100 only in thatconnectivity to the destination nodes 14 is provided by wireless link 26from base station 24. In this embodiment, the command, which performsthe same function as the embodiment of FIG. 2, is issued to the basestation 24 to cause the base station to perform the same per hopprocessing that the command performs with the routers or switches 16 and20 of the embodiment of FIG. 2. Again, the per hop control commandprovides each destination node 14 with the ability to program the perhop processing of the packet data transmissions in at least onecontrolling node delivered from the various source nodes 12 via wirelesslink 26. The dotted lines of the per hop control command 102 indicatealternative routers or switches 16 and 20 to which the quality ofservice command may be addressed. While typically the base station 24 isthe recipient of the per hop control command, in this embodiment itshould be understood that the invention may be practiced with the perhop control command addressed to one or more of base station 24 orrouters or switches 16 or 20.

FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment 300 of the invention in which amulticast transmission is sent from a data sender to multiple receivingdevices. The function of the per hop control command 102 in thisembodiment is similar to the embodiments 100 and 200. The data sender(source node) 12 originates the multicast packet data transmission witha DSCP value of 10. The first router or switch 20 to which the output ofthe packet data network is connected splits the multicast packet datatransmission for delivery through a pair of routers or switches 20respectively to a GSM receiver 14 and an ATM receiver 14. A base stationis not illustrated in this example. The relative DSCP value of the perhop control command 102 from the GSM receiver 14 is “1” to router orswitch 20 and the relative DSCP value of the command from the ATMreceiver 14 to router or switch 20 is “20”. The effect of the per hopcontrol command 102 from the GSM receiver 14 is to lower the per hopprocessing of the packet data transmission from the data sender 12 from“10” to “1” to meet reception requirements of the GSM receiver 14. Theeffect of the command 102 from the ATM receiver 14 is to insure that arelatively high level of reception is maintained, which happens to behigher than the priority of the packet data transmission from the datasender 12, which results in no diminishing in the quality of receipt ofthe packet data transmissions. As is seen from this example, eachreceiver 14 receives a multicast packet data transmission from a singledata sender 12 with a fixed priority and has independent control of thequality of the received packet data transmissions which, in this case,are controlled by a relative priority with higher priority valuesindicating a higher priority for the delivery of a packet datatransmission to the destination node.

FIG. 5 illustrates one possible implementation of the per hop controlcommand 102. The per hop control command contains a source address 200which specifies the address of the destination node 14, which mayinclude a port number, from which the command 102 is outputted and adestination address 202 which specifies that the command is sent toeither a base station 24 or one or more of the routers or switches 16and 20 including any receiving port therein. Additionally, the per hopcontrol command 102 contains a data field 204 which has diverseapplications in defining the type of per hop behavior processing to beperformed by the at least one controlling node on the at least onepacket data transmission transmitted from the at least one controllingnode to the at least one destination node. The data field 204 includesthe necessary identification of the packet data transmission(s) on whichthe per hop behavior processing will be performed, as distinguished fromall other packet data transmissions which are processed in the addressedcontrolling node, and one or more parameters without limitation whichdefine the nature of the per hop processing, such as qualitative,quantative, priority, DSCP, etc. and authentication information.

The methodology by which authentication is performed may be diverse anddifferent implementations may be utilized with the practice of theinvention. It should be understood that the present invention is notlimited to any particular type or format of per hop control command 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of the data field 204 but it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited thereto with the parts ofthe data field being defined as follows:

V: Version number

IPv: IPv4 or IPv6

Pri: Priority (this is relative priority from the end-users point ofview) 15 is

highest priority.

Protocol: Protocol number of the reserved flow (usually UDP).

Aut: Whether authentication is in use and separate authentication headeris place.

For example, 0 means no authentication, 1 means Visa, 2 means RSVPidentity format, etc.

Timer: This contains the value in seconds for the ACK refresh period. Ifrouter does not get ACK for some flow in (timer*3) seconds, thenDS-enabling state is released. Maximum refreshment interval is 1024seconds (about 17 minutes). If timer=0, then refreshments are not usedat all.

In addition to this fixed format, there are also variable length headersfor IPv4 and for IPv6 flows (because their addresses have differentlengths). An additional authentication header (including true identity,etc.) is also possible.

In the embodiments of the invention 100-300, it should be understoodthat the destination nodes 14 may be diverse in nature and represent anytype of receiving device.

While the invention has been described in terms of its preferredembodiments, it should be understood that numerous modifications may bemade thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. It is intended that allsuch modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of data transmission in a communicationsystem comprising a source node which originates packet datatransmissions, at least one controlling node and a destination nodewhich receives the packet data transmissions comprising: originating atleast one packet data transmission at the source node; transmitting theoriginated packet data transmission to the at least one controllingnode, the at least one packet data transmission received at the at leastone controlling node from the source node containing informationindicating a per hop behavior processing which the at least onecontrolling node is to perform on the received at least one packet datatransmission; the at least one controlling node transmitting the atleast one packet data transmission to the destination node with the atleast one packet data transmission being received by the destinationnode with a per hop behavior processing having been performed on the atleast one packet data transmission by the at least one controlling nodedifferent than the per hop behavior processing specified in the at leastone packet data transmission received by the at least one controllingnode; and transmitting from the destination node to the at least onecontrolling node a command which specifies processing of the at leastone packet data transmission by the at least one controlling nodereceiving the command with a per hop behavior indicated in the command.2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the at least onecontrolling node is a router.
 3. A method in accordance with claim 1wherein: the at least one controlling node is a base station.
 4. Amethod in accordance with claim 1 wherein; the at least one controllingnode is a switch.
 5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: theper hop behavior indicated by the command is qualitative.
 6. A method inaccordance with claim 5 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand specifies a degree of time latency during which the at least onepacket data transmission is received by the destination node.
 7. Amethod in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the per hop behaviorindicated by the command specifies an acceptable level of loss of datawithin the at least one packet data transmission.
 8. A method inaccordance with claim 2 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand is qualitative.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein:the per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies a degree of timelatency during which the at least one packet data transmission isreceived by the destination node.
 10. A method in accordance with claim8 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies anacceptable level of loss of data within the at least one packet datatransmission.
 11. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated by the command is qualitative.
 12. A method inaccordance with claim 11 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand specifies a degree of time latency during which the at least onepacket data transmission is received by the destination node.
 13. Amethod in accordance with claim 11 wherein: the per hop behaviorindicated by the command specifies an acceptable level of loss of datawithin the at least one packet data transmission.
 14. A method inaccordance with claim 4 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand is qualitative.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 14wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies adegree of time latency during which the at least one packet datatransmission is received by the destination node.
 16. A method inaccordance with claim 14 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand specifies an acceptable level of loss of data within the atleast one packet data transmission.
 17. A method in accordance withclaim 1 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by the command isquantitative.
 18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein: thequantitative per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies a timeinterval of time latency with which the at least one packet datatransmission must be received by the destination node.
 19. A method inaccordance with claim 1 wherein: the quantitative per hop behaviorindicated by the command specifies a maximum level of loss of data withwhich the at least one packet data transmission must be received by thedestination node.
 20. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein: theper hop behavior indicated by the command is quantitative.
 21. A methodin accordance with claim 20 wherein: the quantitative per hop behaviorindicated by the command specifies a time interval of time latency withwhich the at least one packet data transmission must be received by thedestination node.
 22. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein: thequantitative per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies amaximum level of loss of data with which the at least one packet datatransmission must be received by the destination node.
 23. A method inaccordance with claim 3 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by thecommand is quantitative.
 24. A method in accordance with claim 23wherein: the quantitative per hop behavior indicated by the commandspecifies a time interval of time latency with which the at least onepacket data transmission must be received by the destination node.
 25. Amethod in accordance with claim 23 wherein: the quantitative per hopbehavior indicated by the command specifies a maximum level of loss ofdata with which the at least one packet data transmission must bereceived by the destination node.
 26. A method in accordance with claim4 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated by the command isquantitative.
 27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein: thequantitative per hop behavior indicated by the command specifies a timeinterval of time latency with which the at least one packet datatransmission must be received by the destination node.
 28. A method inaccordance with claim 26 wherein: the quantitative per hop behaviorindicated by the command specifies a maximum level of loss of data withwhich the at least one packet data transmission must be received by thedestination node.
 29. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein: thecommunication system further comprises another source node; and thedestination node generates the command in response to transmission of atleast one packet data transmission from the another source node to theat least one controlling node receiving the command to the destinationnode.
 30. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein: thecommunication system further comprises a communication link having adata transmission capacity and which is disposed between the at leastone controlling node receiving the command and the destination node; andthe destination node generates the command in response to thedestination node choosing to receive data packet transmissions from bothsource nodes so as to accommodate reception of data packet transmissionsfrom the source nodes within the data transmission capacity.
 31. Amethod in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the per hop behaviorindicated in the at least one packet data transmission received by theat least one controlling node is a differentiated services code pointand the per hop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiatedservices code point which is performed by the at least one controllingnode on the received at least one packet data transmission.
 32. A methodin accordance with claim 2 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated inthe at least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 33. A method inaccordance with claim 3 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 34. A method inaccordance with claim 4 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 35. A method inaccordance with claim 5 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 36. A method inaccordance with claim 14 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 37. A method inaccordance with claim 29 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 38. A method inaccordance with claim 30 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in theat least one packet data transmission received by the at least onecontrolling node is a differentiated services code point; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint which is performed by the at least one controlling node on thereceived at least one packet data transmission.
 39. A method inaccordance with claim 1 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in thecommand is an allocation of bandwidth of the at least one packet datatransmission to the destination node.
 40. A method in accordance withclaim 1 wherein: the communication system comprises a plurality ofdestination nodes; the source node originates at least one packet datatransmission to the plurality of destination nodes; and each destinationnode independently transmits to the at least controlling node a commandwhich specifies processing of the at least one packet data transmissionby the at least one controlling node receiving the command with a perhop behavior indicated in the command.
 41. A method in accordance withclaim 40 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in the at least onepacket data transmission received by the at least one controlling nodeis a differentiated services code point; and the per hop behaviorindicated in the command is a differentiated services code point whichis performed by the at least one controlling node on the received atleast one packet data transmission.
 42. A method in accordance withclaim 1 wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in the at least onepacket data transmission is a quality of service specificationspecifying processing to be performed by the at least one controllingnode on the received at least one packet data transmission; and the perhop behavior indicated in the command is a quality of servicespecification processing which is performed by the at least onecontrolling node on the received at least one packet data transmission.43. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein: the per hop behaviorindicated in the at least one packet data transmission is a quality ofservice specification specifying processing to be performed by the atleast one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command is aquality of service specification processing which is performed by the atleast one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 44. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 45. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 46. A method in accordance with claim 5 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 47. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 48. A method in accordance with claim 29 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 49. A method in accordance with claim 23 wherein: the perhop behavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 50. A communication system comprising: a source node whichoriginates packet data transmissions; at least a controlling node, whichis responsive to information contained within the at least one packetdata transmission indicating a per hop behavior processing which the atleast one controlling node is to perform on the at least one packet datatransmission; and a destination node, coupled to the at least onecontrolling node, which receives packet data transmissions transmittedby the at least one controlling node which has been processed by the atleast one controlling node with a per hop behavior processing differentthan the per hop behavior processing indicated in the at least onepacket data transmission received by the at least one controlling nodeand which generates a command which is transmitted to the at least onecontrolling node which specifies processing of the at least one packetdata transmission by the at least one controlling node of the at leastone packet data transmission received by the destination node with a perhop behavior processing indicated in the command.
 51. A communicationsystem in accordance with claim 50 wherein: the at least one controllingnode is a router.
 52. A communication system in accordance with claim 50wherein: the at least one controlling node is a base station.
 53. Acommunication system in accordance with claim 50 wherein: the at leastone controlling node is a switch.
 54. A communication system inaccordance with claim 50 wherein: the communication system furthercomprises another source node; and the destination node generates thecommand in response to transmission of at least one packet datatransmission from the another source node to the at least onecontrolling node receiving the command to the destination node.
 55. Acommunication system in accordance with claim 54 wherein: thecommunication system further comprises a communication link, having adata transmission capacity, disposed between the at least onecontrolling node receiving the command and the destination node; and thedestination node generates the command in response to the destinationnode choosing to receive data packet transmissions from both sourcenodes so as to accommodate reception of data packet transmissions fromthe source nodes within the data transmission capacity.
 56. Acommunication system in accordance with claim 50 wherein: thecommunication system comprises a plurality of destination nodes; thesource node originates packet data transmissions for transmission to theplurality of destination nodes; and each destination node independentlytransmits to the at least one controlling node a command which controlsprocessing of the data packet transmissions by the at least onecontrolling node receiving the command with a per hop behavior specifiedin the command.
 57. A communication system in accordance with claim 50wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in the at least one packet datatransmission is a differentiated services code point; and the per hopbehavior indicated in the command is a differentiated services codepoint to be performed by the at least one controlling node.
 58. Acommunication system in accordance with claim 50 wherein: the per hopbehavior indicated in the at least one packet data transmission is aquality of service specification specifying processing to be performedby the at least one controlling node on the received at least one packetdata transmission; and the per hop behavior indicated in the command isa quality of service specification processing which is performed by theat least one controlling node on the received at least one packet datatransmission.
 59. A communication system in accordance with claim 50wherein: the per hop behavior indicated in the command is an allocationof bandwidth of the at least one packet data transmission to thedestination node.